In Sermon Illustrations: "Against The Kingdom Of God"

I Want To Conclude With A Story That Tony ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on May 18, 2005

I want to conclude with a story that Tony Campolo tells about a time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. He remembered that before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. He was glad to have prayer, but each of them prayed a long time, ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

There Is A Story Told By Dr. Joseph Stowell, ...  PRO

Contributed by David Daniels on Jan 23, 2001

There is a story told by Dr. Joseph Stowell, President of Moody Bible Institute, as he visited a home for mentally handicapped children. While walking through the corridors, he noticed that the windows were covered with tiny little hand prints. He asked the director, what they were all about. The ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Faith, God Brings Hope, Second Coming

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Christmas Day 1968, The Three Astronauts Of ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Oct 4, 2002

On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: Creation, Examples Of Faith, God's Holiness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Standing Up For Truth

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Both these letters make it clear who is a danger to the house churches. They paint a picture of men whose words and actions need to be challenged and condemned. Do you think it was as hard for them back then as it is for us today? I had a friend who visited a church and attended Sunday School. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3, Jude 1:4

Tags: Truth, God's Word, Sunday School

Denomination: Methodist

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Tony Campolo Tells About The Time He Was Asked ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 25, 2004

Tony Campolo tells about the time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. Tony was glad to have the prayer, but each of them prayed a long time, and the longer they prayed the more they ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Hand Of God

Denomination: Methodist

It Is The Lord That Saves  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 19, 2001

Spurgen writes, “ The sense is, it is the Lord alone that saves and blesses: and even though the whole mass of all evils should be gathered together in one against a man, still, it is ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Becoming A Christian, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Pentecostal

Two Men Are Seated In A Plane. The First Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Psalm 66:10

Tags: Temptation, Tempt, God's Provision

Pure White

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Jul 23, 2012

PURE WHITE A little girl went to the countryside on holiday. The cabin where she stayed was next to a grassy hillside on which sheep grazed. She had never seen sheep before. The girl could look from the front door of the cottage and see the sheep milling around on the slope of green. She exclaimed ...read more

Tags: Condition, Compare, God's Standard, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The United States Women’s Softball Team Won ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Aug 29, 2001

The United States Women’s Softball team won the gold medal in Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic games. They lost only one game. In the fifth inning against Australia, Danielle Tyler hit a home run over the center-field fence. When she was greeted by a swarm of well-wishing teammates at home plate she let the ...read more

Tags: Faith, Doing God's Will, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of The Greatest Theologians That Ever Liv...

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Dec 24, 2015

One of the greatest theologians that ever lived, Karl Barth, was asked to be a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of a captivating closing lecture, the president of the seminary announced that Dr. Barth was not well and was quite tired, and though he thought ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Tags: Christmas Love, God's Love For Us

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Outline Of Joseph's Life

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2022

The story of Joseph’s life can be outlined by several key events in Genesis:   1. REJECTION (37:1-36) – Jacob selected Joseph as the favored son and he was despised by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and left him for dead.   2. REFINEMENT (38:1 – 40:23) – Traders came by and ...read more

Tags: Faith, Temptation, Rejection, Joseph, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Give Pain The Short Shrift!" Luke 13:10-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 9, 2005

“Don’t Give Pain the Short Shrift!” Luke 13:10-17 Key verse(s): 16:“‘Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’.” Many things in this life get short shrift. Perhaps its the lot of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Creation

Denomination: Lutheran

There Is A Doctrine That Is Becoming Popular That ...  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 3, 2003

There is a doctrine that is becoming popular that teaches that a Christian can reach a point in their lives where sin no longer has an effect on them. They cease to sin. Of course this totally goes against the Word of God. Hopefully, as we grow and mature as Christians sin has less of a hold on ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin General, Word Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Room  PRO

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Aug 19, 2002

The Room In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Is Said That Cyrus, The Founder Of The Persian ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Mar 16, 2001

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:16-18

Tags: Living For God, Life, God's Will, Godly Living, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Empty Chair  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

The Empty Chair A man’s daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Promises Of God, Prayer How To, Peace

Denomination: Pentecostal

In Her Book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Cassara on Sep 8, 2001

In her book, THE HIDING PLACE, Corrie Ten Boom relates an incident that taught her to be thankful for things we normally would not be thankful for. She and her sister, Betsy, prisoners of the Nazis, had just been transferred to the worst prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5, Romans 8:28, Psalm 33:10-11, Job 42:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: God In The Hardships, God's Omniscience, Joy, Peanuts, Ship, Captain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

C.s. Lewis- Pain Insists Upon Being Attended To, ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 26, 2001

C.S. Lewis- Pain insists upon being attended to, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: ...read more

Tags: Pain, Hardship Of Life, Knowing God's Will, God In The Hardships, Suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Evening Sam Left His Bible Study Group Where ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

One evening Sam left his bible study group where his pastor was teaching on listening to God, convinced that he would listen when he felt God was speaking to him. It was at that very moment that Sam felt the compulsion to buy a gallon of milk. So he pulled over at the nearest shopette and bought a ...read more

Tags: God's Supply, Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Provision, Faith

Denomination: Grace Brethren